summary: you decide to sleep on the couch after a small argument, but Kuroo can’t sleep without you
pairing: timeskip!kuroo x gender neutral reader
notes: this is my first time posting my work on tumblr so please be mindful! any comments, likes, and reblogs are always appreciated
warnings/tags: hurt/comfort, angst if you squint, FLUFF!!, slight kissing, established relationship, mentions of arguments (and kuroo’s parents unhealthy marriage)
If there was one thing Kuroo hated more than anything, it was falling asleep without you, especially if he was the reason for it.
While he was silently watching the unmoving ceiling and listening to the clock tick each passing second, you were resting on the L shaped couch on the other side of the door.
The snarky replies and empty insults from earlier kept repeating in Kuroo’s head, filling the empty silence of your bedroom. It was like they were spilling out of his ears and staining the cream colored sheets. Like a loud ringing that he couldn’t escape.
He didn’t mean them, he never would. His fatigue wasn’t an excuse for it, but it was still the only reason behind the petty one sided argument that occurred only four hours ago. He was just mad at everything but he took all of his bottled up anger out on you.
You knew he would never mean it, because, well- it was Kuroo. Sweet, affectionate, dorky Kuroo who loves you more than words could explain. Who shows his love during lazy Sunday mornings when you can’t be bothered to get up, and through the polaroid of you two in his wallet that everyone at the office has seen, and the endless chemistry books he annotates for you which you find so weird, but its okay because he’s the one who does it. Who asks you to tie his tie before work when he’s fully capable of doing so, just so he can admire you, and who remembers the date and location of your first everything’s with little trinkets from each one in a small box on top of the closet (where you can’t reach).
So of course he wouldn’t mean what he said. You just didn’t want to provoke him even further and thought it be best for him to cool off. You weren’t mad at him. Although, this decision was made without Kuroo’s knowledge since you stayed silent for most of the disagreement and wanted to keep your own emotions in check. You might have broken down right then and there if any words came out of your mouth. It wasn’t like he was raising his voice at you, but you —like any other person— hated conflict.
It was incredibly obvious that the words weren’t directed to you since he had said similar things about a new coworker that was giving him a hard time. It became quite clear that he wasn’t yelling at you, but almost, to you. And you let him, because you knew the root of his distress, and because he deserved to let everything out once in a while, just like he let you do the same. Even if this wasn’t the best way to do it, you were sure to talk about it later.
You were willing to be patient for him, and wait for him, and give him comfort because he deserved it for all the times he’s been there for you. But you weren’t able to do that for him at the time since it was almost midnight, and you knew how his brain worked, so you thought this would be best for him.
Though, it might’ve been better to tell him beforehand the actual reason for your sleeping on the couch, but it hadn’t crossed your mind.
Kuroo had a bad habit of overthinking excessively every time you would fight (no matter how big or small), and would doubt every possible detail, only for you to remind him that one fight does not determine your relationship and does not erase your history.
So, as always, the action of you sleeping on the couch was interpreted by Kuroo as the worst thing imaginable. It reminded him of the relationship his parents had, something he always tried to steer away from, and it was rare for you to do this —to be fair, most of your arguments didn’t usually happen right as you were getting ready for bed. This slight miscommunication caused a large amount of discomfort and Kuroo couldn’t bear it any further.
Which is why he quickly decided to lift the duvet off of his body, put on his bunny slippers, and trudge his heavy body out of the bedroom and into the living room. When he spotted your body laying on the worn out couch, he also happened to notice that the pillow wasn’t behind your head —probably ending up somewhere on the floor— and you were in an odd positon. Maybe you were restless too. Maybe this would be okay.
He neared the couch and bent down to place a light kiss on your forehead and proceeded to whisper a small apology that he would repeat in depth when you were awake and ready to listen.
You hummed at him, presumably in your sleep, but he appreciated it nonetheless.
Carefully, he slid both his arms underneath your frame and hauled you into his chest while you subconsciously wrapped your arms and legs around him. Your head had comfortably nuzzled his neck, and he was reminded of all your promises that no matter what happens, you would still love each other.
As he was slowly walking back to your bedroom, enjoying the peace that he couldn’t grasp alone, he felt two feathery kisses placed in the crook of his neck and his shoulder. The kisses were gentle, and lasted for a few seconds before you moved to place another one. They were so precious, and he happily basked in the warmth of your lips on his skin.
He almost wouldn’t have caught it —it was hard not to from the serenity of the environment—, but when the beautiful phrase of:
Had spilled from your lips in so much as a whisper, his heart had grown three sizes too big, and he was sure it might have compressed his lungs. That would be the only reason for the wonderful ache in his chest. Not an ache of dread or hurt, but one of purity and joy. An ache that only you knew how to cause.
The fact that you declared this while still asleep, made his entire face turn a light pink and the love in his heart to overflow. And he was definitely sure you were asleep. By now he could easily distinguish it with experience from the times you tired to fake being asleep just to tease him.
It was all so domestic, so lovely, and he wouldn’t have traded for the world.
After you were both tucked comfortably into bed, with your boyfriend’s arms securely wrapped around you, along with his quiet words of apology and promise, the both of you could sleep contently.
Because he knew that you guys were going to be okay, and that you would be okay for the rest of your lives to come.
